NL West

Now Commenting On:

Hanson returns from bereavement list

Email

Print

Hanson stifles Tigers 2:11

4/19/13: Tommy Hanson turns in a good start vs. the Tigers, throwing six shutout innings while scattering six hits and striking out two

By Alden Gonzalez
/
MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- For the last six days, while grieving the loss of his stepbrother, Tommy Hanson was away from the Angels, taking in games on TV and consoling with family members while his teammates went on with their season.

"Being here is my therapy," Hanson said Sunday, from the visiting clubhouse at Safeco Field. "I want to be here. When I'm not here, I don't feel right. I know I had to be there for my family, and my younger sister and nieces and nephews. The whole time I was there, I had that feeling I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be with the team working and watching the games at night. It wasn't fun, to say the least."

Hanson was officially activated off the bereavement list before the series finale against the Mariners and will take his next turn in the rotation during Monday's opener in Oakland. The 26-year-old right-hander missed only one start, a Wednesday game against the Rangers that became a bullpen day and resulted in an 11-3 loss.

Since Monday, Hanson has been in Georgia dealing with the sudden death of his 24-year-old stepbrother, whom he shared a room with in Southern California from ages 9 to 16.

Hanson played catch and worked out at a hotel gym while he was away, then threw a bullpen session at Safeco Field late Saturday night. Angels manager Mike Scioscia expects him to throw his normal number of innings against an A's team that activated cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes off the disabled list on Sunday.

"I'm glad to be back to work, that's the truth," said Hanson, 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in his first three starts. "It's just something you have to deal with. I'm happy to be there for my family."